As a project manager you have to decide when it's appropriate to involve the audience you defined in your project list. Keeping the project audience involved is important and can contribute to your project’s overall success.
Projects pass through the following four stages as they progress from an idea to completion:
Starting the project
Organizing and preparing
Carrying out the work
Closing the project
Break your audience into three groups: drivers, supporters, and observers and include them in each stage of your project’s life cycle.
Drivers
Drivers are the people who have a say in defining results. Involve drivers from the start to the finish of your project. Keeping them involved is critical because they define what your project should produce, and they evaluate your project’s success when it’s finished. The following table tells how to keep drivers involved during the four stages of your project.
| Stage | Involvement Level | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Starting the project | Heavy | Identify and speak with as many drivers as possible. Their desires and your assessment of feasibility can influence whether you should pursue the project. |
| Organizing and preparing | Moderate to heavy | Consult with drivers to ensure your project plan addresses their needs and expectations. Have them formally approve the plan before you start the actual project work. |
| Carrying out the work | Moderate | As the project gets under way, announce and introduce the drivers to the project team. Having the drivers talk about their needs and interests reinforces the importance of the project and helps team members form a more accurate picture of project goals. While performing the project work, keep drivers apprised of project accomplishments and progress. |
| Closing the project | Heavy | Have drivers assess the project’s results and determine whether their needs and expectations were met. |
| Supporters |
Supporters are the people who authorize or provide resources for your project. Involve supporters from start to finish. The following table details how to keep supporters involved during your project’s four stages.
| Stage | Involvement Level | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Starting the project | Moderate | Wherever possible, have key supporters assess the feasibility of meeting driver expectations. |
| Organizing and preparing | Heavy | Because supporters facilitate or do all the work, have them determine necessary technical approaches, schedules, and resources. |
| Carrying out the work | Heavy | Familiarize all supporters with the planned work. Clarify how the supporters will work together to achieve the results. Have supporters decide how they’ll communicate, resolve conflicts, and make decisions throughout the project. |
| Closing the project | Heavy | Have supporters conclude their different tasks. Inform them of project accomplishments and recognize their roles in project achievements. Elicit their suggestions for handling similar projects more effectively in the future. |
| Observers |
Observers have no say in the project but have an interest in your project results. After you choose the observers, involve them minimally throughout the project. The following table shows how you may keep observers involved.
Because observers don’t directly influence or affect your project, be sure to carefully manage the time and effort you spend sharing information with them.
| Stage | Involvement Level | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Starting the project | Minimal | Inform observers of your project’s existence and its main goals. |
| Organizing and preparing | Minimal | Inform observers about the project’s planned outcomes and time frames. |
| Carrying out the work | Minimal | Tell observers that the project has started, and confirm the dates for planned milestones. Inform observers of key project achievements. |
| Closing the project | Minimal | When the project is done, inform observers about the project’s products and results. |